These instructions apply to both plugin versions, for Joomla 1.5 and for Joomla 1.6 - 2.5.

Although pictures in this reference for tweaking the ShareThisBar plugin parameters are from the plugin version for Joomla 1.6 - 2.5, explanations and parameter names are the same for the plugin version for Joomla 1.5. In the plugin version for Joomla 1.5 only order of parameters could be different.

Once you have installed and enabled the ShareThisBar, social media extension for Joomla, it will show up in the front end, on your web site pages.

Initially there is only one social media button selected, the Facebook button. You can easily select more social sharing buttons in the Button Selection and Sort parameter section.

If necessary you can also modify the other plugin parameters.

TIP: When you position a cursor over any plugin parameter name you can see a detailed description about parameter's function and its default settings.

To start with tweaking parameters login to the Joomla™ Administrator panel and choose the submenu Plug-in Manager under the Extensions menu.

In the plugin list click on the ShareThisBar plugin.

The ShareThisBar plugin for Joomla – Administration panel.

The ShareThisBar plugin parameters are divided into several sections in the Plugin manager panel for ShareThisBar.

Immediately after the plugin installation, parameter fields are empty and because of that default values are in effect for each ot the plugin parameters. You should see what default value is assigned to each of the plugin parameters if you hover with your mouse over a parameter.

Let's see what function does each of the ShareThisBar parameters have.

Basic Options - Bar Position

The ShareThisBar can be positioned on the left or right-hand side of the browser window. Default value is left. If we entered right the ShareThisBar(the bar) would be positioned on the right side in relation to the center of the browser window.

The ShareThisBar on the right-hand side in relation to the center of the browser window.

Basic Options - Bar Width and Bar Height

With these parameters you can set the exact size of the bar width and height. These parameters have the default value equal to zero, meaning that size of the bar will be calculated based on a size of the belonging social media buttons, during page rendering.

It might be necessary to explicitly set these parameters if you experience problems with encompassing social media buttons inside the bar.

Basic Options - Position Correction parameters

The following is the set of the bar position correction parameters that have a purpose to fine-tune the bar position in relation to the browser window. If you are unsatisfied with the bar position in the uppermost or bottommost position on a page, or with the bar position in relation to the left/right edge of the browser window, you can use these set of parameters to adjust the bar position.

Basic Options - Bar Top Position Correction

This parameter enables you to correct the bar top scrolling position in relation to the top edge of the browser window.

Default value, if you don't enter any value into this parameter is 150, meaning the bar maximum top scrolling position will be set 150 pixels from the browser window top edge.

If you enter value that is greater than the default value, the bar maximum top scrolling position will be moved downward in relation to the default position. Conversely, If you enter value that is lesser than the default value (e.g. 70), the maximum top scrolling position of the bar will be moved upward in relation to the bar default position.

After we have enetered and saved the parameter, the ShareThisBar top scrolling position moved upward.

Basic Options - Bar Bottom Position Correction

This parameter enables you to correct the bar bottom scrolling position in relation to the bottom edge of the browser window.

If you don't enter any value into this parameter default value is 0, meaning the bar maximum bottom scrolling position will be in level with the bottom edge of the browser window.

If you enter negative value into this parameter the maximum bar bottom scrolling position will be moved upward in relation to the current position for the value of pixels entered.

After we have entered and saved the parameter, the ShareThisBar bottom scrolling position has been moved upward in relation to the bottom edge of the browser window.

Basic options - Bar Left Position Correction

This parameter regulates the bar distance, in pixels, from the left edge of the browser window, when the bar is on the left-hand side of the browser window. If nothing is entered, the default value is 90, meaning the bar right edge is positioned 90 pixels from the left edge of the browser window.

If we would want to move the bar to the right in relation to its current position, to be closer to the content, we would enter number that is greater than 90 (default value) into this parameter.

TIP: Try to position the bar as close as you can to the left edge of the browser window, when the bar is on the left hand side of the browser window. Conversely, position the bar closer to the right edge of the browser window when the bar is on the right hand side of the browser window. Reason for this is that the bar should cover as small portion of the web page as it is possible, considering the minimum horizontal screen resolution setting.

After we have entered and saved the parameter, the ShareThisBar is now positioned closer to the content.

Basic Options - Bar Right Position Correction

This parameter regulates the bar distance, in pixels, from the right edge of the browser window, when the bar is on the right-hand side of the browser window. If nothing is entered, the default value is -90, meaning the bar left edge is positioned 90 pixels from the right edge of the browser window.

If we would want to move the bar to the left in relation to its current position, to be closer to the content, we would enter number that is lesser than -90 (eg. -140) into this parameter.

After we have entered and saved the parameter, the ShareThisBarThe is now positioned closer to the content.

Basic Options - Minimum screen resolution to show the bar

This parameter sets the minimum horizontal screen resolution for which the bar will show up.

If the horizontal screen resolution or browser window width is less than entered value into this parameter, the bar will not show up. If nothing is entered, default value is 1100 px.

Basic Options - Delay ShareThisBar Appearance

This option has a goal to delay the ShareThisBox appearance in order to give impression that the social sharing buttons appear on the screen almost in the same time. This is because the social sharing buttons tend to appear in a cascading manner on the screen, depending on their download times.

If nothing is entered into this parameter field, default value is 3 seconds, meaning the bar will show up with 3 seconds delay. If you don't want delay enter 0 into this parameter.

TIP: If you enter a small number: e.g. 1 (second), it could happen that the ShareThisBar box might be smaller then it should be to encompass all the social sharing buttons. This is because the entered number is too small and there is not enough delay to calculate the container box height based on the size of the inner social sharing buttons.

This wouldn't have happened if we had decided to enter a value into the plugin parameter Bar height, large enough to encompass all the social media buttons: e.g. 230px.

But problem with cascade rendering of the buttons would stay. This is why it is important, if you want to avoid this effect, to enter a number large enough into the Delay SharThisBar appearance parameter, to leave the sufficient time for all the buttons to download so the size of the box can be calculated correctly.

In this example I've entered 230 into the plugin parameter Bar height to insure that the bar box encompasses all social media buttons.

To conclude, in order to resolve problems with properly encompassing social sharing buttons with the bar box, you should either enter larger number into "Delay ShareThisBar appearance" parameter or enter exact height for the bar into "Bar Height" parameter.

This set of options give you the ability to allow or disallow the bar transition effects during bar movement. If you allow the effects you can choose between the five transition effects in the drop-down box field. Also you can modify the transition duration.

This set of the bar options(see above picture) give you the choice to remove the ShareThisBar link to the home site, ExtensionsHub.com, if you want to. But, I would be very grateful if You let it stay, because this way You are sharing this and helping this work. Thank You very much.

Also, you have the possibility to activate the Google Analytics for Social Media Buttons, so you can track clicks on these buttons. The prerequisite for this to work is to already have the Google Analytics account and Google Analytics code included on a page.

To see the analytics reports related to the social sharing buttons in the Google Analytics, open your Google Analytics account and choose the section Traffic Sources > Social and then Social Plugins.

Google Analytics report for the Social Media Buttons.

Basic Options - ShareThisBar plugin manager language

These two parameters enable you to select language for the plugin manager administration panel.

Default setting for the Automatic language selection parameter is Yes, meaning that the plugin language will be the same as default Joomla administrator language.

If you select No, you can choose one of the languages in the "Language code" parameter. Currently there are translations only for en-GB and sr-YU.

Button Selection and Sort - Button Sorting

You can easily select preferred social sharing buttons for inclusion into the bar and change the social sharing buttons order.

You can also include 3 social sharing buttons of your choice, which are not among previous stated, already included buttons. These buttons have names Custom button 1, Custom button 2 and Custom button 3.

For custom button to function, you must enter code for the button in appropirate fields in the parameter's section Add custom buttons (see below).

For the buttons you wish to include into the ShareThisBar, simply check the preferred social buttons.

To change the social buttons order in the bar, click on a button and drag it to the new position.

Bar style - Show spread the word picture and Choose Picture

These two parameters give you the option to enable (parameter Show Spread the Word Picture) and to select(parameter Choose Picture) a picture with text(e.g. Please Share This) which will appear on the top of the bar.

For now there is only one message : Please Share This in multiple languages, which calls your users to like your page. This text – call to action - can improve the click rate on the social buttons.

Picture names that contain text "on-black" are suitable for Black Style of the ShareThisBar.

Bar Style - Choose Bar style and Bar Style

After the ShareThisBar plugin installation, the Default Style is set.

You can easily select one of the four predefined ShareThisBar styles with a click on the preferred style.

Advanced user, If you are not satisfied with selected style, you can change it in the Bar style parameter or you can enter your unique style. Don't forget to click on the save button, after changes.

Social Media Buttons Parameters –
This set of parameters enable you to save configuration parameters for the social media buttons you've included into the bar.

Social Media Buttons Parameters – Facebook parameters

You can change the Facebook(FB) locale parameter.

If you have the FB app id you can enter it into the Facebook app key plugin parameter if you need to. For the ShareThisBar proper functioning it's not necessary.

The Facebook button data-width plugin parameter can be useful if the word Like in your locale's language is too wide to fit into the ShareThisBar box nicely. Here you can enter a size for this button. Default value is 62.

On this picture there is a situation when the locale is changed from default value(en_US) to sr_RS and the Facebook button data-width plugin parameter has default value(62). You can see on the picture that the FB like button exceeds boundaries of the ShareThisBar box. To fix this, I've entered 95 into this field.

After I've entered 95 into this parameter field the ShareThisBar box looks fine.

You can enter the specific url into the Facebook href parameter if you want, to be liked by your web site users. If this parameter is left blank, the FB href parameter will be, by default, filled with the actual web page's url address that a user is visiting at the moment.

The Facebook xmlns schemas parameter allows you to add the xmlns:fb and xmlns:og schemas definition to your web page, into the html page element, if you need to.

If you enter the url address of your logo(or any image you like to represent your site) into the Facebook og:image meta tag parameter, it will be shown on the fan FB wall when she likes your web page. This is important, because a post with proper picture that appropriately represents your web site on your fan's FB wall will be more prominent and thus will boost your site promotion.

Social Media Buttons Parameters – Google parameters

You can enter the Google href parameter which functions in the same way as the above mentioned Facebook href parameter(see above).

Google Plus Locale parameter is self-explanatory.

Social Media Buttons Parameters – Twitter parameters

You can enter the Twitter href parameter which functions in the same way as the above mentioned Facebook href parameter(see above).

Tip : If you have some kind of problems with javascript button type (e.g. Twitter counter doesn't advance and you are sure that there were clicks) you can choose iframe type. When you choose iframe button, you will not have possibility to track clicks on the Twitter button in Google Analytics.

Social Media Buttons Parameters – LinkedIN parameters

You can enter the LinkedIn href parameter which functions in the same way as the above mentioned Twitter href parameter(see above).

Social Media Buttons Parameters – Pinterest parameters

All three parameters must be entered for the Pinterest button to show up.

Social Media Buttons Parameters – Buffer parameters

You can enter the specific url into the "Buffer href parameter" if you want. If this parameter is left blank, the href parameter will be filled with the current page url.

data-text parameter – If left blank, the current page title will be used.

data-via parameter – your Twitter account name.

Url of the thumbnail image - Enter URI of the image that should appear on the shared link, e.g. http://www.yoursite.com/imagefolder/yourlogoimage.jpg

Add Custom buttons

You have a possibility to enter up to three custom social sharing buttons, buttons that haven't been initially included into the ShareThisBar plugin.

For each of the custom buttons there are two fields : Custom button n code and Custom button n script (where n is : 1, 2 or 3 and represents button number).

After you enter code into this filed, click on the next field. Do not enter javascript code into button code fields.

But for the Twitter button to function properly, the javascript file that supports button is needed. In this case, the javascript code must be entered into the Custom button 1 script field, but without encompassing <script> tags.

Do not enter <script> tags into button script fields, just enter javascript code between <script> tags.

Strip <script> tags when you enter this code into the Custom button 1 script field (see picture above).

There are buttons for which there is no need for additional javascript code. If that is the case the Custom button n script field will be empty.

To show the custom button into the bar, after you have entered the button code and the button script for the custom button, don't forget to activate(check) appropriate button in the Button Selection and Sort section. In this case this is Custom button 1.

Warning: For the following parameters which enable you to exclude the bar showing up in the selected menus or URIs my advice is not to use Exclude/Include Selected Menus and Exclude/Include Selected URIs parameters simultaneously. Use one or the other parameter, because conflicts could arise, causing the bar not to show up in pages you think it should.

Exclude/Include Selected Menus

These parameters enable you to select menus in which the ShareThisBar will or will not show up.

Choose operation on selected menus parameter enables you to select type of the operation you want to execute on selected menus in the Select menu/menus parameter.

If you choose include the ShareThisBar will show up only in the menus you've selected in the Select menu/menus parameter. Conversely If you choose exclude the ShareThisBar will show up in all menus except those selected in the Select menu/menus parameter.

Important: If You want that ShareThisBar appear in all pages, simply do not select any menu in select menu parameter.

When menus are not selected in the select menu parameter, the parameter Choose operation on selected menus has no effect, it is irrelevant.

Exclude/Include Selected URIs

These parameters enable you to select URIs (web addresses – pages from your web site) in which the ShareThisBar will or will not show up.

Choose operation on entered URIs parameter enables you to select type of the operation you want to execute on selected URIs in the Enter URIs parameter.

If you choose include the ShareThisBar will show up only in the URIs you've entered into the Enter URIs field. Conversely, If you choose exclude the ShareThisBar will show up in all web pages of your web site except those pages which addresses you've entered into the Enter URIs field.

When you enter URIs into the Enter URIs field, each URI should start in the new row. To enter URI, simply copy/paste it from web browser address bar into this filed.

Important: If You want that ShareThisBar appear in all pages, simply do not enter any URI in Enter URIs parameter.

When there are no entered URIs in the Enter URIs parameter, the parameter Choose operation on entered URIs has no effect, it is irrelevant.

There are versions of the plugin for the Joomla 1.5 and 1.6 - 2.5; which you can download(zip files) by clicking on the links that represent adequate Joomla version, positioned on the plugin's download page.

This is the FREE plugin and like all the Joomla extensions have the GPL license which is included in the text file: LICENSE.txt, which accompanies the program and xml file in the plugin zip archive file.

Additional information

ExtensionsHub News

24.4.13 - New FAQ page. See if You have problem with Facebook button alignment.

23.2.13 - New Version 3.6 of the ShareThisBar plugin for Joomla is available for download.
Several problems solved from previous version :

* Facebook meta tag fb:app_id didn't show up on a page when fb app key entered into the Sharethisbar parameter.

* On some installations users received these messages :
Notice: Undefined variable: divId in \plugins\system\sharethisbar\sharethisbar.php on line 240Notice: Undefined variable: fbAppkey in \plugins\system\sharethisbar\sharethisbar.php on line 300

Version 3.5 new features added:

* New social media sharing buttons added.

* You can add up to three custom social media sharing buttons.

* Easy social media button selection and button sorting.

* You can easily select one of the predefined ShareThisBar styles.

* Custom ShareThisBar style.

* Exclude/include the bar show up from/into selected menus or entered URIs.